CCLF Implements 2021-2024 Strategic Plan
As Chicago Community Loan Fund positions itself for the “new normal” of the post-COVID-19 era, CCLF has implemented a comprehensive four-year strategic plan that will enable the organization to further its mission and better serve Chicagoland’s communities. The four strategic focus areas of CCLF’s 2021-2024 Strategic Plan positions CCLF to expand, partner and invest. CCLF […]
CCLF Outlines Deployment of MacKenzie Scott Donation
On December 15, 2020, philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced $4.1 billion in donations to 384 organizations across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Washington D.C. Scott and her team undertook a rigorous, data-driven due diligence process to select the 384 donation recipients from 6,490 organizations considered. The organizations were selected based on data analysis on community […]
CCLF Featured In “Conversations With The Citizen”
CCLF’s Wendell Harris, Vice President of Lending Operations, engaged in discussion with The Chicago Citizen newspaper’s Tia Jones for a 30-minute podcast discussing CCLF and our initiatives in Chicagoland’s low- to moderate-income communities. In addition to the podcast, The Chicago Citizen also featured CCLF in a print and online article entitled “Neighborhoods Feel Financial Institution’s […]
RFQ for the Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild Pilot Program
Chicago Community Loan Fund in partnership with the City of Chicago released a Developer Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for the Chicago Neighborhood Rebuild Program (CNRP). Through this request, CCLF seeks Developers (including not-for-profit and/or faith-based organizations) with strong experience in rehabilitation and sale of single family and 2-flat properties, and a familiarity with overall South […]
2020 In Review: CCLF Continues Growth Even During a Pandemic
During a year of health challenges and civil unrest, CCLF ended 2020 as an organization better positioned to ensure capital continued to flow in low-income areas throughout Chicagoland. CCLF ended 2020 with nearly $97 million in loans outstanding to 179 customers working to create communities where people thrive. CCLF completed 48 loans totaling $24.2 million […]
CCLF Supports Businesses During Pandemic
As the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged Chicago-area small businesses and nonprofits, CCLF delved into its resolve to support impacted businesses and communities. CCLF became a partner in several public emergency funding initiatives. Together Now: Chicago’s Fund to Rebuild Our Neighborhoods, a collaboration with the Chicago Community Trust and the city of Chicago, raised monies from the […]
Bubbly Dynamic’s The Plant: Social Enterprise
Chicago’s Back of the Yards neighborhood is a historic community known as the home of the Union Stockyards. Located on the southwest side of Chicago, this is the neighborhood that author Upton Sinclair wrote about in the 1906 novel, “The Jungle.” After the stockyards closed in the 1970s, Back of the Yards became a community […]
CCLF Empowered by Largest Donation In Its History
In December 2020, Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott released a blog post entitled “384 Ways to Help” announcing $4.1 billion in donations to 384 nonprofits across the United States, Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C. CCLF was among the 24 CDFIs included in the donations. Scott and her team undertook a rigorous, data-driven due diligence process to select […]
CCLF Receives Citi Foundation Award
CCLF has been selected to receive an award of $500,000 in unrestricted funds as part of Citi Foundation’s $15 million fund supporting the work of Community Development Financial Institutions. CCLF was among 30 CDFIs awarded nationwide, all selected based on their strong track record of serving small businesses owned by people of color and underserved […]
CCLF Receives FHLB Chicago Targeted Impact Fund Grant
CCLF received a $15,000 Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago (FHLB Chicago) Targeted Impact Fund grant in October 2020 to support those most impacted by the COVID-19 crisis as well as organizations that promote equity and opportunity for communities of color. Announced in August 2020, the $14 million Targeted Impact Fund grant program provided up […]
